immoafrica blog

Repeat buyers gain ground as home prices increase The extent of the improvement in the residential property market over the past two years is clearly indicated in the latest statistics from BetterBond, SA’s leading mortgage originator, which show that home loan approval rate has risen from 61% in March 2011 to 69% in March this [...](more...)

The Reserve Bank (SARB) released the figure for total household credit outstanding as at July, and further acceleration in household credit growth in that month should lead to be increasing concern around household sector financial health. On a year-on-year basis, household credit outstanding rose by 8.09% in July, a further acceleration from the previous month’s [...](more...)

In 1894, Pierre de Coubertin proposed the Latin phrase Citius, Altius, Fortius, (Swifter, Higher, Stronger) to the Olympic Committee. It has served as its motto ever since. The Olympic Games brings together world-class athletes vying for medals, records are broken and new benchmarks established, as evidenced by the outstanding achievements of South Africa’s athletes. In [...](more...)

Is Household Sector borrowing becoming too aggressive too soon? Indebtedness needs to drop further, and savings needs to increase. It was made known by the SARB (Reserve Bank), last month, that South Africa’s level of household indebtedness, as measured by the household debt-to-disposable income ratio, was 74.7% in the 1st quarter of 2012. Disappointing is [...](more...)

It’s Mortgage Monday. Stay bond savvy with immoafrica’s Mortgage Glossary. Today it’s M, for Mortgage…(more...)

immoafrica keeps you informed. Stay smart with our Mortgage Glossary. This week we take a look at the letter L.(more...)

Definition: SAVING – income not spent, deferred consumption, expenditure reduction. Every economy measures its health on the balance between income and expenditure. While consumption creates jobs, pays salaries and grows industry, consumption when not funded by income, requires credit. Most people cannot afford to purchase a home without credit, without a mortgage loan. So the ongoing [...](more...)

In recent months, Warren Buffett, CEO of Berkshire Hathaway and arguably the world’s top investment brain, has repeatedly said that private investors should now be buying up as many single family homes to rent out as they can afford. “And he has given several good reasons for this unequivocal advice which we believe are just [...](more...)

Round 3, to help you stay savvy in the world of bonds and home finance, we take a look at the letter C!(more...)

To help you stay savvy in the world of bonds and home financing, we begin at the beginning by taking a look at the letter B in our Mortgage Glossary.(more...)

When you apply for a home loan, the bank will investigate and analyze every aspect of your finances, to ascertain whether or not you are a high risk client or worth their investing in your home.

Here are some tips to help ensure that when you visit your prospective lender you make the right impression and get approved in no time at all.(more...)

Finding a bond originator or mortgage broker should be at the top of your smart-start to-do list. Your bond originator is an essential part of the home buying process and can turn the daunting task of getting financed into a completely stress free endeavour, here’s why…(more...)